Harawira pledges Mana will battle child poverty

Hone Harawira (right) says free market policies will bring more poverty. Photo / Getty Images

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira stormed back to Parliament last night with a rallying cry for the country's poor.

"Nobody is actively seeking to be a voice for those who don't have a voice. The more we follow free market economics to drive this country, the more poor people there will be."

Harawira took the Te Tai Tokerau seat again last night with an 800 majority. The victory came five months after he forced a byelection in the electorate after a schism with the Maori Party.

The move was the culmination of a three-year shift in the political landscape which saw former Green MP Sue Bradford leave the party she had represented as its environmental lobby asserted a presence.

The long-time activist for the rights for the unemployed joined the Mana Party along with unionist John Minto and lawyer Annette Sykes.

The team allowed Harawira's Mana Party to force a position as a powerful lobby for beneficiaries and minimum wage workers.

Harawira has been a controversial figure since entering politics. He is the son of activist Titewhai Harawira who was once blamed for driving former Prime Minister Helen Clark to tears. He was a firebrand founding member of the Mana Party and emerged as a powerful Parliamentary orator.

Harawira said the Mana Party would be a driving force to create debate around child poverty and would draft legislation aimed at tackling the problem.

"That is what will distinguish it from all the other parties in the House. We need to put the brakes on the bus and turn around to pick up the kids living in poverty."

He said the Maori Party was unable to properly speak for the poor while it was in coalition with the National Party.

He said the party would force a focus on child poverty over the next three years and work with any party which would help make a difference.